Boehner vows to avert USA shutdown

Boehner attributed his resignation to the brewing conservative rebellion and said it was inspired by Pope Francis’ visit.

“Absolutely, they’re not realistic”, the retiring House speaker said of hard-line conservatives and outside groups in a Sunday interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation”. His tenure has been defined by his early struggles to reach budget agreements with President Barack Obama and his wrestling with the expectations of Tea Party conservatives who disliked his tendency toward deal-making. “But the Bible says beware of false prophets”. “John Boehner is a very gracious man, and I wish him success in his next endeavor”.

Asked if Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican and presidential candidate who has advocated shutting the government down in order to gain leverage on issues, was one of those, Boehner said he would defer to comments he made about Cruz at a Colorado fundraiser in August. “So change comes slowly, and obviously too slowly for some“. He is in the midst of trying to craft a solution to keep government running as conservatives threaten to vote against any spending bill that includes funding for Planned Parenthood.

After Boehner’s announcement, McCarthy rushed past reporters and TV cameras, refusing to say anything. “They’re serving in the Congress. Have we accomplished anything?”

Boehner said he thought he might receive “a little more cooperation” during his last weeks, and that he wants “to get as much as finished as possible”.

“Healing our divisions and uniting behind the conservative policy solutions the American people deserve will help our members and it will empower the new leaders we select”, he said in a letter to colleagues.

At the end of the interview, Dickerson asked Boehner whether the “rumor” that he does yoga is true.

“I don’t know if I’ll miss him, ” she said. There are people out there, you know, spreading noise about how much can get done. The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote Monday on a bill to fund the government – including money for Planned Parenthood – into December.

“I have respect for my colleagues, I respect the people who send them here, I respect the fact that their caucus elected them to a leadership position”, Pelosi said. “In our system of government, it’s not about Hail Mary passes”. Many Republicans are determined to defund the organization at all costs, including shutting down the federal government. It’s the Woody Hayes school of football – three yards and a cloud of dust. It’s a slow and methodical process.

Shimkus expects House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California to be the only one who can garner enough support from Republicans to replace Boehner, and then for other members to try and fill McCarthy’s #2 spot. “Good to stretch them out”, he said.